Symphoricarpos plant named ‘KOLMPICA’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Symphoricarpos plant named ‘KOLMPICA’ that is characterized by its short and compact plant habit, its strong stems and its berries that are dark pink in color.

Botanical classification: Symphoricarpos x doorenbosii.

Variety denomination: ‘KOLMPICA’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to a Canadian Plant Breeder's Rights Application No. 19-10053 filed on Dec. 4, 2019 under 35 U.S.C. 119(f), the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Symphoricarpos x doorenbosii that will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘KOLMPICA’. The new cultivar represents a new cultivar of snowberry or coralberry that is used as a landscape and container plant.

The new Invention arose from an ongoing controlled breeding program in Heelsum, The Netherlands. The objective was to elect a new cultivar of Symphoricarpos with a compact plant habit that is suitable of growing in containers. The new cultivar arose from open pollination in summer of 2004 of an unnamed and unpatented proprietary plant in the Inventor's breeding program, reference no. 02-12, as the female parent. The male parent is therefore unknown. ‘KOLMPICA’ was selected from amongst the resulting seedlings as a single unique plant in fall of 2007.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the Inventor using softwood stem cuttings in winter of 2007 in Boskoop, The Netherlands. Asexual propagation by softwood stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of this cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘KOLMPICA’ as a new and unique cultivar of Symphoricarpos.

-   1. ‘KOLMPICA’ exhibits a short and compact plant habit. -   2. ‘KOLMPICA’ exhibits strong stems. -   3. ‘KOLMPICA’ exhibits berries that are dark pink in color.

The female parent of ‘KOLMPICA’, differs from ‘KOLMPICA’ in having a more robust growth habit and a taller plant height. ‘KOLMPICA’ can be most closely compared to the Symphoricarpos cultivars ‘Kolcharm’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,204) and ‘Kolmtrea’ (not patented). ‘Kolcharm’ differs from ‘KOLMPICA’ in having an earlier blooming period, longer stems, and light pink berries. ‘Kolmtrea’ differs from ‘KOLMPICA’ in having a later blooming period, longer stems and darker pink berries.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs were taken in mid summer and illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Symphoricarpos as grown outdoors in Boskoop, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 was taken of a plant 3 years in age as grown in a 5-gallon container and provides an overall view of the dense, compact habit of ‘KOLMPICA’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 was taken of a row of 3-year-old plants of ‘KOLMPICA’ as grown in a trial garden.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Symphoricarpos.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 8-month-old plants of the new Symphoricarpos as grown outdoors in one-gallon containers in Richmond, Wash. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Blooms heavily for about 4 to 5 weeks in             June in The Netherlands.         -   Plant habit.—Compact mound, short stems.         -   Plant size.—Average of 55 cm in height, 45 cm in width as             grown in the landscape.         -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 5.         -   Diseases and pests.—Good tolerance against powdery mildew             (caused by Erysiphe diffusa or Microsphaera diffusa), no             susceptibility or resistance to pests has been observed.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, 161C in color.         -   Propagation—Softwood stem cuttings.         -   Root development.—Roots initiate in about 4 weeks and fully             roots as young plant in about 5 months.         -   Growth rate.—Vigorous, grows 10 cm a year. -   Branch description:     -   -   Branch shape.—Rounded.         -   Stem color.—New growth; 145A, mature wood; 151A and heavily             flushed with 176A, bark 199A and N200C.         -   Branch size.—Main branches; up to 35 cm in length and 5 mm             in diameter, lateral branches; an average of 26 cm in             length, 2 mm in diameter.         -   Branch surface.—New growth; glabrous and glossy, mature wood             is dull and smooth and becoming bark-like as it ages.         -   Branching.—Heavily branched with an average of 8 main             branches, average of 12 lateral branches per main branch.         -   Internode length.—Average of 2 cm on lateral branches, 6 cm             to 8 cm in main branches. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Obtuse to elliptic.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Rounded.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Leaf fragrance.—None.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, inconspicuous, colors matches leaf             surface colors.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite and whorled down branches.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf surface.—Glabrous on upper surface and lower surface.         -   Leaf size.—Average of 3 cm in length and 2 cm in width.         -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 26 pair per lateral branch.         -   Leaf color.—Young and mature upper surface; 137A, young and             mature lower surface; 138A.         -   Petioles.—2 to 3 mm in length and 1.5 mm in diameter, 145A             in color, glabrous surface.         -   Stipules.—None. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Single campanulate flowers             arranged in terminal spikes or solitary in leaf axils;             freely flowering habit with 9 to 14 flowers per spike.         -   Flower aspect.—Flowers face outwardly to drooping.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity.—Average of 5 days, not persistent.         -   Fruit longevity.—Average of 1 month.         -   Flower buds.—Average of 2 mm in length and 1 mm in diameter,             orbicular in shape, 48A and 142B in color.         -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 1.5 cm in length, 1 cm in             diameter.         -   Flowers.—Average of 9 mm in length, 4 mm in diameter.         -   Petals.—5, arranged in a single whorl, slightly overlapping,             petals 60% fused into base, 6 mm in length, 3 mm in width,             broadly elliptic in shape, broadly acute apex, entire             margins, upper surface pubescent, lower surface glabrous and             smooth, color; upper and lower surface when opening and             fully open 155A and 155B, flushed lightly with 68A, veins on             petals also lightly flushed with 70A.         -   Sepals.—5, arranged in a single whorl, fused below the             apices, average of 0.5 mm in length, 1 mm in width at the             widest point, acute apex, entire margins, inner and outer             surface glabrous, color; outer surface 145A, flushed with             71A, inner surface 145A.         -   Calyx.—Funnelform, 1 mm in length and diameter.         -   Peduncles.—Strong, 144B in color, up to 4 mm in length, 1 mm             in width, glabrous and slightly glossy surface.         -   Pedicels.—None, sessile to peduncle. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistils; 1, average of 3 mm in length, stigma;             club-shaped, average of 0.5 mm in width, 22A in color,             style; average of 2.5 mm in length, NN155C in color, ovary;             average of 0.5 mm in diameter, 149A in color.         -   Androecium.—Stamens; 5, 0.5 mm in length, anthers; narrow             oblong in shape, average of 1 mm in length, 22A in color,             pollen; abundant in quantity, 11A in color.         -   Fruits.—Average of 1.5 cm in diameter, 1.2 cm in length,             spherical in shape, smooth in texture, color; a blend of             NN155C, 69A, 62A and 62B.         -   Seeds.—Average of length 3 mm, average of 2 mm in diameter,             158A in color. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Symphoricarpos plant named ‘KOLMPICA’ as herein illustrated and described. 